Red bearberry is a small shrub that grows close to the ground on Arctic and rocky alpine slopes. Its ripe fruit is red, while the similar alpine bearberry has dark purple to black fruit.

Appearance

Growth form
This dwarf shrub stands about 1–6 in. (3–15 cm) tall.
Leaves
Small oval leaves have finely toothed edges.
Flowering time
In Wyoming, it flowers in May and June.
Fruit
The fruits ripen scarlet or brick red rather than black. In Wyoming, fruit has been recorded from July through September.

Look-alikes

Alpine bearberryArctous alpina

Ripe fruit is the clearest clue: red bearberry has red fruit, while alpine bearberry has dark purple to black fruit. Without fruit, a close look at the leaves may be needed.

Why they get mixed upBoth are low northern shrubs with toothed leaves.

Common bearberryArctostaphylos uva-ursi

Common bearberry has smooth leaf edges; red bearberry has fine teeth. Both can have red fruit, so check a close leaf photo.

Why they get mixed upBoth make low mats and red fruit.

Where it lives

Typical habitats
  • Arctic tundra
  • Rocky alpine slopes
Range
In the United States it is native to Alaska, with isolated populations reported in Wyoming. It grows on cold, often rocky or gravelly ground.
Flowering

Flowers May–Jun

Flowers May–Jun · Fruit Jul–Sep

Name and classification

About the name
Red bearberry is also called red fruit bearberry.

Conservation

IUCN Red List
NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
Status
In the U.S., its isolated Wyoming populations are rare.
10 sources
  1. iNaturalist taxon API: Arctous rubra
  2. Plants of the World Online: Arctous rubra
  3. Flora of North America: Arctous rubra
  4. US Forest Service: red fruit bearberry
  5. 홍월귤 우표 발행 — 한국우편사업진흥원
  6. Red fruit bearberry — Hokkaido University
  7. 국가생물적색자료집: 홍월귤
  8. 국가생물적색자료집: 월귤
  9. POWO: Arctous alpina
  10. Red Bearberry and Alpine Bearberry — Northwest Territories
Red bearberry (Arctous rubra) — identification, habitat & look-alikes | Moeyo